Bill Belichick’s hot seat gets hotter as Mike Lombardi lands on leave: Mandel’s Mailbag

Key Points:

• Mike Lombardi has been placed on administrative leave at UNC, raising doubts about the future of coach Bill Belichick, whose hiring has been widely criticized and whose team struggled with recruiting and scheduling challenges last season.
• Wisconsin showed late-season progress last year under Luke Fickell, aided by strong defense and key transfers, and faces a lighter schedule this year, increasing expectations for at least a seven or eight-win season.
• Lane Kiffin’s move to LSU may reduce his reliance on the transfer portal due to better access to elite high school recruits, but rising NIL costs complicate roster management decisions between high school players and transfers.
• Indiana’s coach Curt Cignetti’s future depends on maintaining success beyond last season’s breakthrough, with recruiting gains like landing a five-star receiver offering hope despite potential setbacks in upcoming seasons.
• College football scheduling remains chaotic and unbalanced, with no incentive for top programs to schedule tough non-conference games; experts suggest incorporating schedule strength into College Football Playoff selection criteria to improve fairness.